Lesson Four: How to Care for a Hatchling

by **Syveris** on November 18th, 2013, 11:13 pm

61st of Fall, 513 AV

Just like she had said she would, Syveris was now walking up the way to the Aviary. She was used to the Edge of the World, but it was different: there was no walking forward, only climbing up. Gulping, she wondered if she would ever become accustomed to the narrow ladder that lead to the Abelu Aviary. She wasn't afraid, but she also didn't walk in that path as if it was nothing.

After ten chimes, slightly faster than the first time she had gone there, she reached the platform in front of the Aviary, and, as she had done the first time, leaned against the wall. Only this time, it was just to appreciate the birds that were perched in the metal railing. This time, it was a magpie that caught her eye. Syveris hadn't known the name of the bird on the first time she had seen one, but she had asked Burl and he was kind enough to tell her.

The small bird opened the wings and took flight, and Syveris smiled, turning around and entering the Aviary. She should get started soon, so maybe she would be able to ask some questions after her task for the day.

Going straight towards Burl, she greeted the other Avora, not feeling nearly as nervous as she had the first time. The man was nice and kind, and Syveris was glad to learn what he had to teach, even if it was only enough for her to be useful in the Aviary.

"Oh, hello again." he greeted her back, and finished talking with whomever he was talking before turning to her. "Ready for today's work? You will be feeding the birds today. I don't have much time to teach you now, but just get that bucket and give the rodents to the birds in the smaller cages. Don't worry about the water today." after Syveris nodded, Burl added, quickly, before walking away. "Falcons and hawks are carnivorous, magpies, crows and ravens are omnivorous, and they all eat small rodents, so don't worry about which bird should you give it and which you shouldn't, but make sure you research their diet later. Any problem, just call me."

When he walked away, Syveris took the bucket, looking at the bodies of mice inside. It was somewhat gross, but she just shrugged. Nothing she couldn't do. The Avora went to the mews at the corner, starting with the small ones there. She would then move towards the other corner. Looking at the upper mews, she noticed there were some Inarta (whatever they were Chiet or Avora she couldn't tell) that were doing the same as her. She wondered if they were also volunteers, or really employed in the Aviary. Well, it didn't matter, so Syveris turned her focus once again to the task she had been given.

x Poppy

by **Syveris** on November 30th, 2013, 5:39 pm

The first mew she entered was a raven's, and Syveris placed the meat inside the food dish. It wasn't hard to tell which one was the right one, as the other was half filled with water. The black bird watched her with very keen eyes before loosing interest and focusing on the meat, not waiting to tear a piece apart and gulp it down. Syveris giggled like a little girl, before closing the mew and going to the next one.

The Avora quickly lost track of time, as she worked alongside others helpers to feed the birds. Most of the birds eyed her during a while before loosing interest and turning to the meat, but there were some that didn't even spare a glance at her before going for food, and others that only ate when she had already closed the mew. The work itself wasn't very different from exchanging the water, but it was way more satisfying, since she managed to see the difference in behavior of each particular bird. Or maybe it was just because she was actually paying attention now. Well, Syveris was glad she had returned, and, for as long as she was feeding the birds, the subject she had came to discuss was forgotten. Watching the birds eat, she wondered if she would feel just as happy as now when she was feeding her own bird. Probably. In fact, it would probably be much more satisfying.

Syveris smiled to herself, temporarily forgetting what she was doing, while she thought about the egg in her room. It was exciting to know that, soon, she would be taking care of her own little falcon.

She yelped when she felt a sharp beak touch her fingers, and looked at the raven that had snatched the meat out of her hand and was now eating happily. Syveris pouted, but her hand was fine. She was just surprised at the sudden contact. The bird clearly didn't care, and the Avora closed the mew, not knowing if she laughed or felt annoyed.

After she was done with the last small mew, she put the bucket where other empty ones were, and prepared to leave. Syveris had begun to go down the stone ladder before she remembered she had gone to the Aviary that day to ask about hatchlings. Turning back, the Avora entered the place once again and looked around. Burl was busy, talking with another Inarta. She couldn't ask him, then, so maybe... The Avora looked at Phack. The healer didn't seem too busy, and he was alone. She wondered if she should go ask him. Well, he was probably the most fit person to answer, anyway, so she made her way to where he was sitting.

x Poppy

by **Syveris** on November 30th, 2013, 6:15 pm

"Hello." she greeted, with a smile, feeling a little uncomfortable. Syveris really didn't know why she felt like that every time she was introducing herself to someone she viewed as a teacher or mentor, even if only for a moment. Maybe it was because of Virat. He had been the first mentor she had ever felt respect for, but after him, she began to respect every mentor and teacher. She didn't know why, either. "I'm Syveris. I volunteered to work here a few days ago." Phack nodded, showing he had listened, but not saying anything, so the Avora continued. "I, hm, I was wondering if you could tell me a little about falcon hatchlings."

"Why?" he said, seeming surprised, but still not looking at her.

"Why? Well, because I received an egg as a birthday present, and I still don't know much about birds, but I'm trying to do some research and..." Syveris was beginning to become nervous again.

"If you do not know much, why did you got an egg? Isn't it irresponsible? What if the hatchling dies?" Phack interrupted her, finally looking up, a frown on his face.

The Avora had to force herself not to get angry. She wasn't going to let a bird die because of her! She was researching exactly for that. But she wanted the healer's help, not his animosity, so she controlled herself. Saying something harsh only because she felt offended wouldn't do any good for her.

"If I'm not fit to care for the chick when the egg hatches, I'll handle him or her to someone who are." the dark haired man looked at her for some time, as if analyzing her, before finally nodding and motioning to a chair in front of him.

"Fine, do it, then. As long as you keep that in mind, I don't see a big problem. Just put the bird safety in front of your personal wishes. only after Syveris nodded, to show she had understood, did the healer kept talking. "So, what do you want to know?"

x Poppy

by **Syveris** on December 19th, 2013, 1:19 am

"Nothing specifically, actually. I..." Syveris sat down, a little more at easy now that Phack was willing to talk with her. She thought for a while of what she wanted to ask. It wasn't like she should really just ask the man to teach her about hatchlings. It would be better if she made a question. "Alright. When the egg hatches, what should I do? I mean, should I move the chick to another box, wait, or..."

"No, you will let the chick quiet, and only approach it when its time to feed or clean the 'nest'. Chicks can get very stressed if they are not used to human presence, and this takes a while to happen." the healer turned his attention back to the paper he had been writing in for a moment, before looking back up. "They can easily catch diseases too, some species easier than others. Cover the floor with hay, if you haven't already, and change the dirty spots every feeding, and all of the hay every two days. It'll probably need less changing after a while, but if you want to be safe, just do this."

"I will do it, then." Syveris nodded. "And..."

"Chicks are also very sensitive to heat and cold." Phack interrupted her. "Keep the same temperature in which the egg hatched, which means you will need to put the heat source closer, if the egg hatches in Winter. And then, daily and very slowly, put the heat away until the bird is accustomed with the room temperature. Now, this normally takes ten days, more or less, but since is Winter..."

"I might need to keep the lamp closer for a longer time, right?" when Phack nodded, Syveris smiled to herself, happy that she was understanding. "Is there a way I can figure out if the chick is feeling cold?"

"If there is more than one, the chicks will huddle together. If there isn't, you will probably notice that the chick is trying to get closer to the heat source, or is huddling on a blanket. Just bring the heat closer."

"And the feeding?" this was a question that was really bugging her. She didn't have the slightest idea on how she would feed the small chick. The Avora had read that a falcon chick had to be fed by the parents, and this meant it wasn't only dropping the meat on the nest and leaving.

"Well, first, you should wait for eight hours minimum before feeding the chick. The type of meat will depend on the birds diet, but you must skin and clean all the meat before giving it in tiny pieces to the bird. While the estling is younger than ten days, you will have to give only soft meat, with small tweezers. Feed the chick every three to five hours, except at night, and when you see that the belly is round and firm, stop the feeding, even if the chick begs for more. After ten days the chick should be able to feed by itself, and then, you research more later about the adequate diet."

by **Syveris** on December 19th, 2013, 1:27 am

"Just one last question." Syveris wondered for a while how she should put it, before shrugging. "I read that falcons can't move around when they come out of the egg, and that I should expect them to be crawling because of it. If I didn't know that, then I would be frightened, thinking something is wrong..." the Avora stopped talking, noticing she was going slightly off the topic. "Well, the question is: what kind of problems might occur and what is normal?"

Phack nodded, again. "Well, eggs can hatch later or sooner, depending on the temperature. If it's too high, it might hatch earlier. If it's too low, it may hatch later. However, later hatching can also be due to eggs being too large, the parents being old or the hatchling being too weak, which doesn't mean there isn't a chance for survival. So don't worry if it takes longer than the normal thirty days for the egg to hatch. Also, if the chick seems too small, don't worry too much either. In nature, maybe it wouldn't survive, but since you will be taking care, the bird may grow up strong enough."

"I see." Syveris whispered, biting her lip and thinking. There was no way she wouldn't worry if the egg took too long to hatch, but she could at least keep the healer's words in mind, so she wouldn't panic and not know what to do. "How much longer can it take?"

"Varies." Phack answered. "If it takes more than two days, though, there is a high probability that the egg will not hatch anymore. It can be due to not being in a suitable ambient, or because it isn't a fertile egg. But if the egg hatches late and the chick is really small, raise the temperature a bit. If it's an early hatch or the chick is slightly deformed, well, try lowering the temperature, but don't get too expectant that it will survive."

The Avora felt a heavy weight on her chest, but she tried to chase the feeling away. Phack hadn't said it would happen. So she shouldn't really think about it right now, so much time before the egg actually hatched. Syveris was about to thanks the healer, when another Inarta interrupted them.

"Hey, Phack. I need your help. Are you busy now?"

Syveris got up, not willing to get in the way of the man's job, specially since he had already answered her questions. Waving and saying thanks, she walked away, letting the two man discuss whatever they needed to discuss.

Well, at least, she knew a little more about how to care for the small chick. Not that it meant she was actually calm now.

"Hey." Phack called her, and the Avora turned to face the healer. "If, when the egg hatches, you feel like you can't take care of the bird, bring him here. It'll probably cost you something if you wish to get him back once he becomes a fledgling, but at least he will be safe."

Syveris smiled, and nodded. She was feeling more relieved now, knowing that, if she couldn't do things right, she had somewhere to take the bird. Things would turn out alright. Humming to herself, she made her way out of the Aviary, thinking about the day the egg would finally hatch. She truly hoped she would be able to take care of the falcon.

by **Skerry** on December 22nd, 2013, 9:35 pm

Grades

Syveris

Skill	XP
Animal Husbandry	3
Observation	5
Socialization	2

LORES :

Notes:
A nice thread, Syveris. Very informative. With all the information I’m going through I might be able to look after a chick myself soon!

Remember if you have any questions or problems with your grade then feel free to PM me.

Completed Lesson Four: How to Care for a Hatchling